The National Park Service (NPS) acknowledges access to parks and recreational facilities for communities of color is a serious concern. “[C]ommunities of color and children have disproportionately low access to parks and open space in Los Angeles County,” according to a NPS draft study of the proposed national recreation area in the San Gabriels.

Citing The City Project’s work, NPS found “many families in the low income neighborhoods of the region often do not have cars nor are near public transportation systems that allow for access to regional parks.”

NPS recognizes that “significant efforts will need to take place to ensure sufficient opportunities for diverse recreational experiences in the future.” Community groups, civic leaders, and government agencies are working to create and maintain open space in the Los Angeles area that can be used for recreation, biking, walking, equestrian, plant nursery, and other activities.

“As many of these opportunity areas span political boundaries and are beyond local municipality control, a regional, effective, and comprehensive approach should be taken when examining these opportunity sites. In doing so, barriers related to the relatively fragmented political character of these cities must be overcome so as to ensure effective and comprehensive management policies for regional recreation and open space planning,” NPS stated.